All guests should have received an email from Windstar Cruises with a PDF of your reservation confirmation, details of the trip, your cabin, and instructions on signing up for excursions. WE HIGHLY ENCOURAGE SIGNING UP FOR EXCURSIONS BEFORE THE TRIP. There are limited spots for each excursion, but if we know in advance, we can work with Windstar & Excursion Company to adjust. Once on the ship, Windstar would be unable to accommodate.
In the PDF sent to you by Windstar there is a link to Visit My Windstar (Pg 3 of your travel documents) where you can log in and review + book the different excursions.
Below we have also provided some notes and tips as you get ready for the trip!
Temperatures are typically and expected to be highs of ~85 degrees and lows ~ 70-74 through the week. Please note it can feel a little cooler as we are at sea.
Key items not to forget and items not to bring
DON’T FORGET
• Passport – please make sure you have more than 6 months until expiry from the date of departure. Also, if you do not have a US passport, please confirm you have appropriate visas if necessary (ie if you have Indian passport, you will need a visa).
• Credit Card – like a hotel, each cabin will require credit card to book your excursions and any other onboard purchases
• Sun screen and insect repellent
• Water shoes (if you have)
• Motion sickness – although waters are calm during sail, if you have motion sickness, the boat has medicine available for free. If you are prone to motion sickness, we’d also recommend bringing Dramamine and/or “Sea Band” (a motion sickness wrist band)
DO NOT BRING:
• AC outlets are American friendly on the boat. On Papeete, the Tahiti Ia Ora Beach Resort (previously known as the Le Meridien) has one universal outlet per room; if one outlet is not enough, you may want to bring a converter.
• Masks, snorkels, fins are provided on boat
• Beach towels are on the boat
• All bath products are high quality - L'Occitane (shampoo, conditioner, body wash, lotion) – and are refilled daily by Windstar staff
• Indian Naashto or Chai. We have an Indian chef on board and he will be serving fresh chai and Indian breakfast (and meals) in addition to normal meals. French Polynesia is strict on its Customs and most likely these items will be confiscated at Customs.
EARLY MORNING / NIGHTS – we recommend bringing some warm/comfy clothes to lounge around the deck outside having chai/coffee during mornings watching the sunrise or at night gazing at the stars
DAYTIME – we recommend active/leisure/swim wear clothes as many of your days will be spent on land or water excursions, touring the islands or on hanging out at the beach
EARLY EVENING – we recommend some leisure / comfortable clothes to hang out
DINNERS – attire is dressy-casual. Men should plan on wearing a collared shirt (button down or polo) with shoes. Sport coats are not required. Women can wear anywhere from casual to chic dresses along or a dressy top with pants or shorts and top.
WEDDING DAY
Beach Wedding Ceremony (late morning): Indian or beach semi-formal attire
• Men – pants / collared shirt or traditional Indian attire
• Women – Beach dress or traditional Indian attire; no stilettos/ heels (we will be on the beach)
Beach Reception (evening): beach semi-formal
• Men – Ties not necessary
• Women – cocktail or beach dresses; no stilettos / heels (we will be on the beach)
December 15th 2018 – Bora Bora
Wedding and Reception take place on Motu Tapu (islet off of Bora Bora)
Getting to / from Motu Tapu – Catamaran service will be shuttling wedding party to/from the Motu
• 11:00am – Baarat for the Groom
• 11:30am – Wedding ceremony
• 5:00pm – Cocktails & Sunset on Motu Tapu followed by dinner & dancing
You should have received a welcome itinerary and details of excursions via email from Windstar. We encourage everyone to pre-book their excursions online @ My Windstar.
Currency is French Polynesian Francs or XPF.
$1 USD is the equivalent of ~ $105 XPF.
We recommend bringing some cash for exchange, although this would be mostly for purchasing souvenirs or small bites, if you happen to stop at a small food place on one of the islands. The excursions from the boat can all be charged to your room credit card if you had not booked beforehand. Most tourist places also accept credit cards around the islands.